Faisalabad, 24 September 2024: The Pakistan cricket selectors have announced a 15-member squad for the first Test against England, scheduled to take place in Multan from October 7 to 11.
Following the announcement, and at the recommendation of head coach Jason Gillespie, the selected players will be withdrawn from the Champions One-Day Cup playoffs to rest before the series. The squad is set to gather in Multan on Monday, September 30, with training starting on October 1.
Squad for the 1st Test:
- Shan Masood (captain)
- Saud Shakeel (vice-captain)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Huraira
- Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper)
- Naseem Shah
- Noman Ali
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper)
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, who has taken 47 wickets in 15 Tests, replaces injured fast bowler Khurram Shahzad.
Kamran Ghulam and Mohammad Ali, who were part of the squad for the Bangladesh Tests, remain in the selectors’ plans. However, due to the focus on consistency and continuity, and the belief that 15 players are adequate for a Test match, they have been encouraged to continue playing in the Champions One-Day Cup and the President’s Cup, starting October 3, to maintain their competitive edge.
Jason Gillespie, Pakistan men’s red-ball head coach, stated:
“With a busy domestic and international cricket schedule, it makes sense to give our players some much-needed rest ahead of the Test series against England.
“We are very much looking forward to the series against England here in Pakistan and cannot wait for it to begin. We are excited about playing in front of our wonderful supporters.”
